PassMark CPU Mark evaluates processor speed through complex mathematical computations. It provides a reliable metric to compare multi-core performance, where higher scores indicate faster processing for multitasking, gaming, and heavy workloads.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, productivity performance, platform differences, power efficiency, pricing context, and upgrade path so you can see which CPU actually makes more sense.

Core i7-11850H

2021

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

Trade-offs

❌483.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 6W.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 PRO 230 moves to FP7/FP7r2/FP8 and DDR5.

Ryzen 5 PRO 230

2025

Why buy it

✅Draws 6W instead of 35W, a 29W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7/FP7r2/FP8 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11850H across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,702 vs 19,873).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $150 MSRP, while Core i7-11850H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Core i7-11850H

2021

Ryzen 5 PRO 230

2025

Why buy it

✅Better for gaming: +11.4% higher average FPS across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
✅+50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

Why buy it

✅Draws 6W instead of 35W, a 29W reduction.
✅Newer platform on FP7/FP7r2/FP8 with DDR5 support instead of FCBGA1787 and DDR4.

Trade-offs

❌483.3% higher power demand at 35W vs 6W.
❌Older platform position on FCBGA1787 with DDR4, while Ryzen 5 PRO 230 moves to FP7/FP7r2/FP8 and DDR5.

Trade-offs

❌Worse for gaming: lower average FPS than Core i7-11850H across 4 shared CPU benchmark tests.
❌Lower PassMark (19,702 vs 19,873).
❌Smaller total L3 cache (16 MB vs 24 MB).
❌Launch MSRP is still $150 MSRP, while Core i7-11850H mostly shows up through inconsistent older-market listings.

Quick Answers

So, is Core i7-11850H better than Ryzen 5 PRO 230?

Yes. Core i7-11850H is the better overall CPU here. You are getting a 11.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data and 0.9% better PassMark, which makes it the stronger all-around choice.

Which one is better for gaming?

If gaming is the priority, Core i7-11850H is the better pick here. According to our tests, it delivers 11.4% more average FPS across 4 shared CPU game tests.

Which one is better for streaming, content creation, and heavy multitasking?

For streaming, content creation, and heavier multitasking, Core i7-11850H is the better fit. You are getting 0.9% better PassMark, backed by 8 cores and 16 threads. It also carries the larger cache pool with 50% larger total L3 cache (24 MB vs 16 MB).

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper CPU?

Core i7-11850H is the smarter buy by a wide margin for any fresh desktop build. Core i7-11850H is at an unclear MSRP at unclear MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and it gives you a 11.4% average FPS lead across 4 shared CPU game tests in our data. Ryzen 5 PRO 230 only looks good on raw value math because it is a cheap legacy laptop CPU, not because it is a serious desktop gaming option. It simply cannot keep up with modern games, especially when the gap is already 11.4% in the shared gaming data.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Ryzen 5 PRO 230 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer CPU generation (2025 vs 2021) and a healthier platform with FP7/FP7r2/FP8 and DDR5 instead of FCBGA1787. That should give you a better long-term upgrade path for motherboard, RAM, and future CPU swaps.

Games Benchmarks

Paired with RTX 4090

To accurately isolate CPU performance, all benchmarks below use an NVIDIA RTX 4090 as the reference GPU. This eliminates GPU-side bottlenecks and highlights pure processing throughput differences between the CPUs.

Note: Real-world results may vary based on your actual GPU. CPU performance impact is more visible in processing-intensive titles and high-refresh-rate gaming scenarios.

Core i7-11850H Benchmark Check

Ryzen 5 PRO 230 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	Core i7-11850H	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
1080p
low	280 FPS	265 FPS
medium	250 FPS	240 FPS
high	213 FPS	201 FPS
ultra	182 FPS	173 FPS
1440p
low	236 FPS	232 FPS
medium	190 FPS	191 FPS
high	156 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	137 FPS	138 FPS
4K
low	165 FPS	161 FPS
medium	134 FPS	134 FPS
high	104 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	92 FPS

Open Core i7-11850H Open Ryzen 5 PRO 230

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	Core i7-11850H	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
1080p
low	497 FPS	390 FPS
medium	497 FPS	323 FPS
high	437 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	394 FPS	250 FPS
1440p
low	497 FPS	328 FPS
medium	460 FPS	282 FPS
high	388 FPS	257 FPS
ultra	333 FPS	220 FPS
4K
low	340 FPS	246 FPS
medium	288 FPS	216 FPS
high	264 FPS	202 FPS
ultra	232 FPS	170 FPS

Open Core i7-11850H Open Ryzen 5 PRO 230

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	Core i7-11850H	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
1080p
low	497 FPS	493 FPS
medium	497 FPS	493 FPS
high	497 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	497 FPS	493 FPS
1440p
low	497 FPS	493 FPS
medium	497 FPS	493 FPS
high	497 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	487 FPS	439 FPS
4K
low	497 FPS	493 FPS
medium	480 FPS	434 FPS
high	427 FPS	370 FPS
ultra	356 FPS	305 FPS

Open Core i7-11850H Open Ryzen 5 PRO 230

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	Core i7-11850H	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
1080p
low	497 FPS	493 FPS
medium	497 FPS	493 FPS
high	497 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	497 FPS	493 FPS
1440p
low	497 FPS	493 FPS
medium	497 FPS	493 FPS
high	497 FPS	493 FPS
ultra	497 FPS	493 FPS
4K
low	497 FPS	493 FPS
medium	497 FPS	493 FPS
high	497 FPS	444 FPS
ultra	431 FPS	381 FPS

Open Core i7-11850H Open Ryzen 5 PRO 230

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Core i7-11850H and Ryzen 5 PRO 230

Core i7-11850H

The Core i7-11850H is manufactured by Intel. It was released in 11 May 2021 (4 years ago). It is based on the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture. It features 8 cores and 16 threads. Base frequency is 2.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.8 GHz. L3 cache: 24 MB (total). L2 cache: 1.25 MB (per core). Built on 10 nm SuperFin process technology. Socket: FCBGA1787. Thermal design power (TDP): 35 Watt. Memory support: DDR4. Passmark benchmark score: 19,873 points. Launch price was $299.

Ryzen 5 PRO 230

The Ryzen 5 PRO 230 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in 6 January 2025 (less than a year ago). It is based on the Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) architecture. It features 6 cores and 12 threads. Base frequency is 3.5 GHz, with boost up to 4.9 GHz. L3 cache: 16 MB. L2 cache: 6 MB. Built on 4 nm process technology. Socket: FP7/FP7r2/FP8. Thermal design power (TDP): 6 MB + 16 MB. Memory support: DDR5. Passmark benchmark score: 19,702 points. Launch price was $299.

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Processing Power

The Core i7-11850H packs 8 cores / 16 threads, while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 offers 6 cores / 12 threads — the Core i7-11850H has 2 more cores. Boost clocks reach 4.8 GHz on the Core i7-11850H versus 4.9 GHz on the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 — a 2.1% clock advantage for the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 (base: 2.5 GHz vs 3.5 GHz). The Core i7-11850H uses the Tiger Lake-H (2021) architecture (10 nm SuperFin), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 uses Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025) (4 nm). In PassMark, the Core i7-11850H scores 19,873 against the Ryzen 5 PRO 230's 19,702 — a 0.9% lead for the Core i7-11850H. Geekbench 6 single-core — the metric most relevant to gaming — records 1,911 vs 2,320, a 19.3% lead for the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 that directly translates to higher frame rates. L3 cache: 24 MB (total) on the Core i7-11850H vs 16 MB on the Ryzen 5 PRO 230.

Feature	Core i7-11850H	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
Cores / Threads	8 / 16+33%	6 / 12
Boost Clock	4.8 GHz	4.9 GHz+2%
Base Clock	2.5 GHz	3.5 GHz+40%
L3 Cache	24 MB (total)+50%	16 MB
L2 Cache	1.25 MB (per core)	6 MB+380%
Process	10 nm SuperFin	4 nm-60%
Architecture	Tiger Lake-H (2021)	Hawk Point-U (Zen 4) (2023−2025)
PassMark	19,873	19,702
Geekbench 6 Single	1,911	2,320+21%
Geekbench 6 Multi	—	7,210

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Memory & Platform

The Core i7-11850H uses the FCBGA1787 socket (PCIe 4.0), while the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 uses FP7/FP7r2/FP8 (PCIe 4.0) — making them incompatible on the same motherboard. Maximum memory speed reaches DDR4-3200 on the Core i7-11850H versus DDR5-5600 on the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 — the Ryzen 5 PRO 230 supports 22.2% faster memory, which can translate to measurable gains in memory-sensitive workloads. The Ryzen 5 PRO 230 supports up to 256 GB of RAM compared to 128 GB — 66.7% more capacity for professional workloads. Both feature 2-channel memory with ECC support. Both provide 20 PCIe lanes. Chipset compatibility: HM570,QM580,WM590 (Core i7-11850H) and Socket FP7 (Ryzen 5 PRO 230).

Feature	Core i7-11850H	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
Socket	FCBGA1787	FP7/FP7r2/FP8
PCIe Generation	PCIe 4.0	PCIe 4.0
Max RAM Speed	DDR4-3200	DDR5-5600+25%
Max RAM Capacity	128 GB	256 GB+100%
RAM Channels	2	2
ECC Support	No	Yes
PCIe Lanes	20	20

🔧

Advanced Features

Neither processor supports overclocking. Both support AVX-512 instructions, benefiting scientific computing, AI inference, and encryption workloads. Virtualization support: VT-x, VT-d, EPT (Core i7-11850H) vs AMD-V, AMD-Vi (Ryzen 5 PRO 230). Both include integrated graphics — UHD Graphics (Core i7-11850H) and Radeon 760M (Ryzen 5 PRO 230) — useful as a fallback for troubleshooting or display output without a dedicated GPU. Primary use case: Core i7-11850H targets Workstation Laptop. Direct competitor: Core i7-11850H rivals Ryzen 7 5800H.

Feature	Core i7-11850H	Ryzen 5 PRO 230
Integrated GPU	Yes	Yes
IGPU Model	UHD Graphics	Radeon 760M
Unlocked	No	No
AVX-512	Yes	Yes
Virtualization	VT-x, VT-d, EPT	AMD-V, AMD-Vi
Target Use	Workstation Laptop	—